Outline The Risen Jesus Brings Us Joy based on Luke 24:36-49

I. Not too joyful Easter morning.

II. Fear today.

III. Cleopas on road to Emmaus earlier.

IV. Jesus appeared and Luke 24:37-40. As they were telling the disciples what had taken place, then Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace to you.” Luke 24:37-40 tells us, “But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.”

V. We might think we would have believed.

VI. Disbelieved for joy.

VII. One step farther and Luke 24:44-47. Jesus went one step farther. Luke 24:44-47 states, “Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’”

VIII. On our own we can’t believe, so Jesus opens our eyes too.

IX. Still today we want others to be rescued from their fears and worries.

X. The risen Jesus brings us J O Y. The risen Jesus brings us joy. You have maybe heard one way to define the word “joy” as Jesus, Others, and Yourself. When Jesus is first in our lives than we can have joy. When Jesus and others are first in our lives we can have joy. When we our last in importance we can have joy. That is not always easy to do though. You have maybe visited someone in the hospital who was going through a tough time. That person was upbeat even in a time of pain. That person was more interested in how you were doing than in how that person was doing. After you left that hospital room you were feeling more joy than you were before the visit. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Joy is something that keeps us going even in the hard times of life. Joy comes from faith in Jesus. Joy comes from being concerned about others. Joy comes to us each morning as we thank God for another day and ask Him to help us put Jesus and others before ourselves each day. The risen Jesus gives us joy to share with others. At the heart of that joy is the forgiveness of sins and wrongs in the name of Jesus. Amen.